Sailor of Means MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Abilities Treasure
Power 1
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants both a defensive presence and a tool for mana ramp through its Treasure token creation.
  2. Enables synergies in artifact-centric strategies, enhancing combo and acceleration potential.
  3. Fits versatile roles in various decks, making it a useful card in diverse MTG strategies.

Text of card

When Sailor of Means enters the battlefield, create a colorless Treasure artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."

In the Brazen Coalition, the wheels of business are greased with plunder.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sailor of Means presents a tactical edge by providing an additional artifact with its ‘when enters the battlefield’ effect. This not only offers a body on the board but also extra utility through the Treasure token it creates, contributing to your pool of resources and potential card advantage through flexible mana availability.

Resource Acceleration: The Treasure token provided by Sailor of Means can be pivotal for accelerating your mana resources. It aids in casting costlier spells ahead of schedule or enables multi-colored decks to smoothly access their diverse mana requirements, fostering a more consistent and powerful game play.

Instant Speed: Although Sailor of Means isn’t an instant, its influence on game dynamics is akin to having an instant-like effect by potentially propelling you into a stronger position the very next turn. The Treasure token can be used at instant speed, offering surprise interaction or the opportunity to capitalize on mana without telegraphing your plans to your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sailor of Means does not have an ability that requires discarding as part of its cost or effects, therefore, this characteristic is inapplicable to its evaluation.

Specific Mana Cost: While Sailor of Means isn’t prohibitive in its mana requirements, it does require one blue mana to cast. This requirement pigeonholes it mostly into blue or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its playability in mono-colored decks of other types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, this pirate may not seem overly expensive, but when measuring its impact on the game against other three drops, it can sometimes fall short. Cards at this range of the curve are expected to have a significant impact on the board and Sailor of Means, offering only a mild ramp in the form of Treasure tokens, might be overshadowed by more high-impact cards at the same cost tier.


Reasons to Include Sailor of Means in Your Collection

Versatility: Sailor of Means seamlessly adapts to various deck strategies, with its ability to create a Treasure token providing both a defensive unit and a mana fixer.

Combo Potential: Utilizing the Treasure token, Sailor of Means can unlock numerous synergies, particularly in decks that capitalize on artifacts or treasure for combo plays or acceleration.

Meta-Relevance: Given a meta that favors enduring board presence, Sailor of Means offers a cost-effective way to maintain competitiveness with its added value in generating resources for future plays.


How to beat

Sailor of Means is a resourceful card found in many MTG decks, distinguishing itself with the ability to create a Treasure token upon entering the battlefield. This characteristic not only provides a color-fixing asset but also offers a ramp in mana, potentially accelerating a player’s game. With three toughness, it serves as a notable blocker in the early game, making it a card to reckon with.

To effectively overcome Sailor of Means, removal spells that can bypass its moderate toughness are key. Direct damage spells or those that allow you to target and destroy a creature regardless of its toughness, like Doom Blade or Murder, are particularly effective. Additionally, one could utilize spells that force the opponent to sacrifice a creature, thus circumventing Sailor of Means’ role as a blocker and its potential for mana acceleration. Cards like Diabolic Edict put the choice in the opponent’s hands, but often result in the removal of key resources such as Sailor of Means.

Managing Sailor of Means requires strategic removal or the implementation of overwhelming board presence that devalues the token advantage provided by the Sailor. Thus, overcoming the tempo and the resource advantage it gives your opponent is crucial to beating this pesky pirate on the high seas of MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the swashbuckling world of MTG where every card holds the potential to tip the scales in your favor. Sailor of Means could be the versatile crew member your deck needs, offering strategic advantages through resource acceleration and combo potential. Whether you’re battling through a high-stakes tournament or just enjoying a casual game with friends, understanding the utility of every card is key to victory. Elevate your game by mastering the nuances of artifact plays and mana flexibility. Ready to commandeer the high seas of MTG? Navigate to our site for more insights and tactics to fortify your deck with Sailor of Means.


Cards like Sailor of Means

Sailor of Means is a versatile creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering both a defensive body and a resource advantage. In comparing it to other cards, we see it aligns with the likes of Prosperous Pirates. Both cards bring a pirate’s flair to the table and generate Treasure tokens when they enter the battlefield, which can be later utilized for mana of any color. Where Sailor of Means offers a 1/4 creature for three mana, Prosperous Pirates provides a more substantial 3/4 body for five mana, giving players more power in exchange for the higher cost.

Another similar card is Skilled Animator, which transforms an inanimate artifact into a powerful creature. While Skilled Animator doesn’t provide additional mana, it does turn any artifact, including a Treasure token, into a threat, potentially providing a quicker route to victory.

In regard to utility and cost-effectiveness, Sailor of Means nicely positions itself within the realm of MTG creatures that carry value beyond their stats. Its low mana cost accompanied by potential mana acceleration allows it to be a favorable choice for decks that capitalize on artifact synergy or seek to ramp up their mana capabilities.

Prosperous Pirates - MTG Card versions
Skilled Animator - MTG Card versions
Prosperous Pirates - Ixalan (XLN)
Skilled Animator - Core Set 2019 (M19)

Cards similar to Sailor of Means by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Cloud Elemental - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Clam Session - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Glacial Wall - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Cloud Elemental - Visions (VIS)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Reef Pirates - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Magic 2010 (M10)
Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)
Clam Session - Unglued (UGL)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Glacial Wall - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wormfang Drake - Judgment (JUD)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sailor of Means MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Sailor of Means and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sailor of Means Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29IxalanXLN 732015normalblackRyan Pancoast
22018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 492015normalblackRyan Pancoast
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4762015normalblackRyan Pancoast
42020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1722015normalblackRyan Pancoast
52020-09-26The ListPLST RIX-492015normalblackRyan Pancoast
62020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 882015normalblackRyan Pancoast

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sailor of Means has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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